MONTEGO BAY, St James — FAMILY members and friends of the late Dinesh Dadlani have upgraded the playground at Mount Alvernia Preparatory School in this resort city in memory of the late Montego Bay businessman.

Dadlani died at the age of 39 on Monday, March 24, after suffering complications associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

According to businessman Mark Hart, a long-time friend of the Dadlani family, the idea to renovate the playground was conceived at his friend’s memorial service at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay, overlooking Mount Alvernia Prep.

He recounted that he was among a group of mourners, who are past students of the school, who immediately decided to improve the playground at their alma mater, which has seen no improvement since they were attending that institution.

“And then we said why don’t we do something? And that’s how it started,” Hart recounted during the dedication ceremony at the facility last week.

Principal of Mount Alvernia Prep Angela McPherson, who was approached shortly after the birth of the idea, agreed to the initiative after consulting with the school board.

Aroon Dadlani, who gave the welcome at the dedication ceremony, was thankful that “something good has come out of the tragedy.

“Although it’s very sad, it’s also a blessing to have this [upgrade of the playground] happen, so the kids will benefit and look forward to a nice social time with each other,” Aroon Dadlani said.

Meanwhile, since its renovation, the Dinesh Dadlani Playground, as it is now called, has brought immense joy to the 305 students enrolled at the prominent Montego Bay prep school.

“It is with great pride that I take this opportunity to say thanks for our fine play area. It has brought a new dimension to our school and has made us the envy of all children everywhere,” said head girl Olivia-Jade Gibbs. “We are excited just to see it. As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

She added: “We are extremely grateful for this stunning area and I want to promise you all that we will take good care of it, while we enjoy it.”

For Anthony Cameron, the school’s PTA president, the gift was a prayer answered, as the association was grappling with the idea of upgrading the facility.

“If you ask anybody who has been associated with Mount Alvernia Prep family over the last couple of years what is the greatest need of the school, you would get a resounding answer, a playfield. And so as an ambitious PTA body ourselves, over the last two years we took up this mammoth task of seeking to improve the playground. Little did we know all we needed to do was just pray and the Lord would answer our prayer,” he said.

“As a PTA family we would just love to express our profound gratitude to you the Dadlani family,” Cameron said.

Meanwhile, the school’s principal has pledged to assist in immortalising the memory of the late businessman.

“Friends and family of Mount Alvernia Prep, as we create this new bond let us say on behalf of the school board, staff and students we are eternally grateful, we reassure you, Dinesh’s family, that we will help you to keep Dinesh’s memory alive,” McPherson stated.